Spoke for vehicle-wheels



(No Model.)

A. BEDPORD. SPOKE FOR VEHIGLE WHEELS.

No. 477,290. Patented June 21, 1892.

ue. Nunnls Runs om, PHOTO-HTML, msmmnou u c TYNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

ALMA BEDFORD, OF COLDWATER, MICHIGAN.

SPOKE Fon VEHICLE-WHEELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 477,290, dated June 21,1892.

' Application filed July 20,1891. Serial No. 400,070. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, ALMA BEDFORD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cold water, in the county of Branch and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Wheels; andI do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification. I

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in vehicle-wheels, especially designed for light racing-sulkies; and it consistsin a certain construction and formation of parts, as hereinafter fullyset forth, the essential features of which being pointed outparticularly in the claims.

The object of the invention is to produce a vehicle-wheel of lightweight without sacrificing the necessary strength and stiffness of thewheel, and by means of which the draft of the vehicle is reduced by adecrease in the air resistance to the revolution of the wheel. Thisobject is attained by the construction illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a wheel embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the spokesthereof. Fig.3 is an enlarged cross-section on dotted line 3 3 of Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a like section on dotted line 4 4 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 isa like section on dotted line'5 5 of 'Fig. 2.

Referring to the letters of reference, A designates the wooden spokes ofthe wheel having the common foot 15 and the tongue 2'. The

body of these spokes, as will be seen, is rhom bal in cross-section,instead of being elliptical, as commonly made, the throat 1) thereofbeing of the usual oval form in cross-section, from which point therhombal formation of 'the spoke begins, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Bymaking the throat'thin and oval in form the requisite resiliency isimparted thereto, obviating undue rigidity in the wheel, which wouldresult were the rhombal form continued to the foot of the spoke.

In producing this form of spoke the round portion between the acute andobtuse angles thereof, as indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4,and common in other spokes, is cut away, the requisite thickness of thespoke being preserved through the obtuse angles a and the requisitewidth through the acute angles 0, thereby forming aspoke ofgreatlyreduced weight that is still possessed of the required strengthand stiffness, making a' of the spokes formed by the obtuse angle apresent a smaller area of surface at greater angle-to the resistance ofthe air than the elliptical form of spoke commonly used, effecting acorresponding reduction in the draft of the vehicle.

The spoke is made tapering longitudinally, but maintaining from thethroat to the tongue the quadrilateral form, as before set forth.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As a new article of manufacture, a wooden spoke for vehicles havingafoot at one end and a tongue at the opposite end, and an interposedthroat oval in cross-section, the body of said spoke being rhombal incrosssection, as set forth.

2. In a vehicle-wheel, the combination, with the rim and hub, of thespokes having'asquare foot secured in the hub, the resilient throat ovalin form, the rhombaled-formed body extending from the throat to theouter end, which is provided with a plain tenon secured in the rim.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALMA BEDFORD.

WVitnesses:

JOHN R. CHAMPION, CHAs. N. CHAMPION.

